Workshop Title: Images + Drawing = Writing Collaboration (Google Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik)

Day: 3

Subject of the Day's Workshop:

To develop knowledge and application of Images and Drawing using Google Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik for storyboarding, writing, and collaboration within the middle school English Language Arts classroom.

Prerequisite Knowledge:

1. A basic knowledge of Google Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik.

Content:

Think of the old adage, "a picture is worth a thousand words." When we look at images, we try to answer questions such as the following: What is happening? What is the story? Today's workshop will entail reviewing applications operations and functions within Google Docs, specifically Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik to examine how images can be utilized to enhance and strengthen collaboration, literacy, and critical thinking skills. Participants will interact with the applications through the use of demonstrations, collaborative, and individual activities. Finally, participants will be given some planning time to create a technology rich lesson for use within the classroom that implements the use of Google Docs: Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik in addition to completing the self and professional development evaluation.

Objectives of the Lesson:

By the end of Day 2, participants will be able to:

1. Possess a larger understanding of the various operations within Google Docs: Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik.
2. Recognize, understand, and apply various ways that Google Docs: Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik can be utilized in the middle school English Language Arts classroom.
3. Transform teaching practices through the use of Google Docs: Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik focusing on examination of how storyboarding and collaboration through images can lead to writing collaboration experiences within the middle school English Language Arts classroom.
4. Create and develop activities that utilize Google Docs: Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik within the middle school English Language Arts classroom that promote image creation, editing, and writing collaboration.
5. Engage in self evaluation and workshop evaluation.

Lesson Format:

1. Brief question and answer session to address lingering questions from participants regarding information from Day 2.
2. Facilitator will provide review of the various functions within Google Docs: Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik. Participants will interact with review by uploading a photo and usingGoogle Docs: Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik, to edit it and create a mini slideshow.
3. Individual Activity: Participants will create an image in Google Docs: Drawing, edit it in Picnik, create a mini slide show using Picasa. Facilitator will use this time to aid participants if they have any individual questions regarding the three applications they are working with.
4. Participants and facilitator will engage in discussion about the use of pictures to develop plot development skills amongst students. Facilitator will share a Google Doc: where participants will be able to summarize notes from discussion collaboratively and use it as a reference for the future (Brainstorm of how applications can be utilized).
5. Collaborative Activity: Listening to a piece of music, participants will utilize a Drawing image of a plot chart to identify images that tell a story according to the music. Participants will create 4 drawings and take 4 pictures (digital cameras provided or participants may use MacBooks to take images), edit them in Picnik, and create a slideshow or movie using Picasa (Begin with storyboard template). The final product will tell a story. Participants will share final presentations with other groups by embedding it into a Google Doc.
6. Collaborative Activity: After groups have viewed another group's movie/slideshow, they will create fill in a Google Doc according to plot development. In addition, they will begin to compose a collaborative story based upon that movie. Products will be shared with other groups and as a whole group facilitator will lead discussion while viewing.
7. Planning time: Participants will be able to develop and create a Google Doc: Drawing, Picasa, and Picnik based upon current classroom topics that will be implemented in the classroom for student use (must be a collaborative activity). Facilitator will be able to meet individually with participants during this time to aid in development or answer questions.
8. Self and Workshop Day Evaluation.

Sample of Storyboard Template

Sample of Google Drawing Activity

Sample of Whole Group Discussion Google Doc

Sample Plot Development for Collaborative Activity

Sample Plot Development Worksheet for Collaborative Activity

Additional Materials and How They will be Used:

Google Docs:
Will be used as an extra resource where participants can access information and additional tutorials about various functions within Google Docs: Drawing.

Picasa Help:
Will be used as an extra resource where participants can access information and additional tutorials about various functions within Picasa.

Picnik Help:
Will be used as an extra resource where participants can access information and additional tutorials about various functions within Picnik.

Digital Storytelling:
Will be used as a resource for participants to support understanding and application of digital storytelling in the classroom.

Evaluation:

Please click here to access and complete the self and daily workshop evaluation (Currently not available. Your trainer will activate it during the workshop session).